News

Coach Allen Wednesday

Head Coach Dennis Allen spoke with the media after Wednesday's practice.

On how QB Matt Leinart and Terrelle Pryor looked in practice today: “Both of them looked pretty good. They had a good day out here and both of them got reps with the ‘ones.’ We’ll to continue to monitor it as we go through the week and we’ll make a decision at the end of the week which way we want to go.”

On the reps: “It was evenly split.”

On Pryor not being ready to be a backup last week to possibly being a starter this week: “I think when you get done with the game, your mindset is one and then when we get a chance to sit down and evaluate where we’re at, I think obviously, we got a chance to see what Matt could do, and we might need to see a little more of Terrelle. But we’ll evaluate that as the week goes on.”

On if they would consider using both QBs: “Yeah, again, we’re going to watch these guys work this week and see how they work and at the end of the week we’ll make a decision which way we’re going.”

On the Chargers 11 sacks against a young quarterback [Greg McElroy] last week: “I think their pressure percentage has gone up in the last few weeks. Then obviously it was up even a little bit more last week. I would expect young quarterback, veteran quarterback, whatever the case may be, when you get the backup, a guy that hadn’t had as many snaps, the guy who hadn’t seen all the looks throughout the season, you’re going to try to give him a few more looks and make sure you can affect them.”

On the challenges when you can’t run the football consistently: “You have to be able to run the ball in this league. Points are scored in this league through the passing game. That’s how you get big chunks, but you have to be able to run the ball to be effective. You have to be able to be balanced. From a defensive standpoint, when the offense is able to be balanced it makes it a lot harder for you as a play caller to know what defensives to call. Our ability to run the football and be effective running the football is something we need to get better at.”

On Darren McFadden: “Well we certainly want to get Darren going and we haven’t really been able to get it on track on a consistent basis. We’ve had a few games where we’ve been able to do something, but on a consistent basis, we hadn’t been able to do that. Like I said before, that’s not a one-man show, that’s the whole operation. We have to be able to block better; we’ve got to be able to run it better and then be able to execute in the passing game which opens up some of the run game options.”

On limitations in play calling with Pryor in the game: “I don’t think you’re going to be the same with either quarterback as you would with Carson [Palmer] because Carson’s been getting all the reps and he has full command of the offense. So yeah, I’d think we’d be scaled back a little bit with each other quarterbacks that we’d play.”

On if it would be even more limited with Pryor: “I don’t think it would be even more so. There’s a point where you have to give it enough to make it difficult on the defense, but yet you can’t simplify it to the point where you make it too easy on them.”

On if this week is about getting Pryor up to speed: “Yeah, a little bit. But at the end of the day, we have to put a game plan together that we think gives us a chance to beat San Diego – offense, defense, and in the kicking game. That’s what we’re going to do.”

On if Pryor needs to make more progress in fundamentals or in the command of the offense: “Those are all factors. Terrelle ran a little bit different schemes some in college and he hasn’t had a lot of experience in the National Football League. Again, he’s worked extremely hard, but it’s something where I feel like you have to force something to happen right now. Something we need to continue to work with.”

On if Palmer will travel with the team this week: “No, it’s my understanding that Carson won’t be able to fly.”

On if that is because of his lung: “Yes, that’s my understanding anyway.”

On if Palmer’s health is a matter of him resting: “Yes.”

On the other injured players: “We’ll have to see. I know [Mike] Brisiel, Tyvon Branch, Phillip Adams, those three guys, none of which practiced today. We’ll see where we’re at tomorrow.”

On if there is still a chance Richard Seymour plays: “I don’t know the answer to that. He didn’t practice today.”

On what he wants to learn from Leinart and Pryor going into the off-season: “I think the thing is can they function in the number-two quarterback role. That’s to be determined and we need to look at it. We get one more game to take a look at it.”

On DB Brandian Ross: “I’ve liked what I’ve seen out of him the last few weeks. He’s done a nice job. He gives us some flexibility. He’s played some safety for us. He’s played, what we call, a joker role, which is kind of a hybrid safety-corner type position. He’s played out at corner. He’s also worked inside in the nickel. He’s a guy that we’ve learned more about and we’ve gotten the opportunity to play him a little bit more the last few weeks and he’s done some nice things. I would anticipate seeing him more.”

On if it took time for Ross to feel comfortable: “Yeah, he came from a different place in the middle of the year, so it takes you a little while to get a feel for the scheme and what we’re trying to ask him to do. And then it takes us a while to really get a chance to get comfortable with him too. So obviously with some of the injury situations we’ve faced back there, we were able to get him into the game and he took advantage of the opportunities he had. That’s what’s key. You don’t know when those opportunities are going to come, but hewn you get the opportunity you have to take advantage of it because you might not get a second chance. He took advantage of the opportunity.”

On the differing skill sets between Leinart and Pryor: “They’re two totally different quarterbacks. Terrelle, obviously, is an athletic quarterback, that can really do some things on the move. Matt is a little more your prototypical pocket passer. And so I think when you look at those guys, you have to take into account those skill sets, what they can do well.”